1386 replies to this topic

[Tsunade]

Avatar - 7/10

The plot MEH, been there done that kinda thing, THOUGH I do gotta quote my brother "There is only so many stories to tell". The visuals were bloody brilliant! I have to say that the planet looked absolutely life like and believable. I saw it in 3D which was fun, and highly amusing since I went to watch it with my best friend WHO when bugs flew by the screen tried to bat at them. The only downside to the 3D was the fact that I have glasses and glasses over glasses is annoying and made me feel slightly cross-eyed.

The only other thing I have to say about this movie is that it was LONG and since I am ADHD it I was getting really restless by the end.

The best way to sum up this movie. --Click here to view--

Dances with Wolves meets Ferngully meets Starship Troopers. lol

LOL, Really? I thought it was more Highlight for spoilers Pochantas IN THE FUTURE O:

[chouzu_tao]

Phoebe in Wonderland 7/10 An exhausting tale about a nine-year old who escapes into fantasy to make sense of her own actions, that also reminds us how difficult it can be to be a good parent and a good teacher.

Inglorious Bastards 8/10 Quite a bit of fun. Mr. Waltz has by far one of the most simply nuanced yet complicated roles in any of Mr. Tarantino's films. In the hands of a poor actor this role would've came off as a giant cartoon, blamed on poor writing, but in his hands the product is magic. It is a man full of ambition who does what he does because he feels it is natural and necassary. You can really tell the actor loves what he's doing, but it never comes across as the character acting like a villain. I don't think he's perfected it yet, but Quentin has gotten very good at writing scenes where tension builds under a thick layer of common dialogue.

Fantastic Mr. Fox 8/10 One of the most charming little films of 2009. It's so full of humor and love, every moment is bursting with magical awkwardness. Kudos to the animators who bring such life to these creature's eyes. Cussin' great!

Observe and Report 2/10 I detest this film. The people I speak to who do like it tell me I just don't get it. But I do. I just don't like it. Those things are supposed to be funny? But they're not in real life. Just because you try to bring us into this warped guy's mindset doesn't mean we'll go or agree and just because you think we understand him more now doesn't mean what he does is any less creepy, wrong, or illegal. When we can't connect with your main character then its not a dark comedy, it's just horrible stuff.

Blood the Last Vampire 6/10 While I've never seen the anime, I don't think they needed to do so much exposition, especially in the middle of the film. That's when the action is supposed to be rising, not coming to a dead halt. The fight choreography is bland at best, I really can't tell because they cut so much during the battle sequences that I can't understand the action-reaction of the blows. Perhaps this is to try and give some credibility that she is able to slay so many creatures in one go, and that I can understand since that's a lot of bodies to go through, but that's what you have to try and find a way around when you tackle something that requires that, and they did a poor job of doing so. And if anyone has seen the anime, was Alice in the anime too? Or is she just some middle ground the director tries to shovel on western audiences? Because that's what she feels like. Some good basic stuff, super-natural stuff is always a plus, but just hobbles along like a car with a flat tire.

EDIT

Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus 6/10
It's really the same review I have for all Terry Gilliam films. He is a genius when it comes to creating a visual world, but man I never ever never ever ever know what he intends with his works. On a side note, if we ever wanted to know what an anime lady would look like in real life, look no further than the pointy-chined, big-eyed, tiny lipped Lilly Cole. She's both beautiful and strange. A much better film than Blood the Last Vampire but just confuzzled.

Edited by chouzu_tao, 09 January 2010 - 03:42 AM.

[FullmetalNinja25]

Pokémon Movie 13 (2009): 7/10
I surprisingly found myself enjoying this one, it's the best Pokémon movie I've seen since....the second one the rest are crap.

[chouzu_tao]

A Town Called Panic a.k.a Panique au Village 8.5/10
Very simple, but dear god is this a delightful nugget of creative randomness. Simply marvelous and a joy to watch. It touches on that little spot in your imagination back when you didn't care that you had your Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles toys show up to help your G.I. Joes toys out of some crazy scheme thought up by your Skeletor toy. Chances are this will be playing only in independent film houses, but if you get a chance go see it.

Big Fan 7/10
Oh... what to say. It's good, but it's a bag of awkward. I hope there aren't really fans like this... but I'm sure there are. The fan very subtly crafts situations, while letting you fill in what's goingn to happen only to have something different happen. But nothing amazing here.

[drag-eart]

Avatar - 8.5/10, maybe even a nine. I really liked it, the visuals was just amazing. The Sgt. was just a freaking badass dude. Great villain. Straightforward. Blunt. No sh#t attitude. The progression throughout the story was beautiful I think. Especially the budding romance and so on. Plot wasn't original, sure. I know. But they took it and changed it. Made it their own. Excellent Movie.

Sherlock Holmes - 7/10. A really good movie. A lot action, hocus pocus, martial arts, investigating, and kicking more butts. The ending was pretty good.

[chouzu_tao]

Tyson 7/10
There is a huge debate about documentaries-- about whether or not there can be truth once a subject knows they're going in front of a camera. I think that's partially true, but it's still possible to show some truth, but then there's the problem with how the director edits the film. Honestly this movie would have rated higher had it not been for some decisions made by the director to try and embellish some things which Tyson says, which in and of themselves are already disturbing. He films some of these portions with three different angles, which in and of itself gives a sitcom or feature feel. He then shows us a split screen, split between the three different angles, which again is okay, but then he loops in the same audio tracks delayed, or he'll put an echo effect on it, or place in parts of the interview from another segment. This cheapens the film, because it is wholly unnecessary. I don't know what happened to cause him to either doubt or feel like he needed to enhance the interviews in any way because everything else is gold. When he lets Tyson just talk it's like watching a car crash. It's just so interesting. His rambling really is like watching a man with five different conversations going on in his mind at one time, where we only get fragments of each of their sentences. The audience is able to notice this right away but surprisingly Tyson only hears how incoherent or unconnected his speech is some of the time. Again interesting watch but just annoying editing.

The Girlfriend Experience 4/10
There are some good moments in here, but between Sasha Grey's monotonous delivery, a million shots of Grey in a car, and the fragmented delivery of the first third of this film, there's just a lot of people and things you don't care about. Despite it's reviews, this film is very very boring.

Edited by chouzu_tao, 20 January 2010 - 06:12 AM.

[FullmetalNinja25]

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete (2009): 9/10
I know, I've said at least a hundred times before that I hate Advent Children but when I saw this on BluRay for only $20 at Best Buy (I hear it's being sold for as high as $50 in other places) I decided to get it using a Gift Card I got for my Birthday. I was willing to give it another chance hoping the 26 minutes of added scenes (which I heard were originally intended for the original release but wasn't because of deadline) would improve the movie. And improve it it did, I have always said that one thing Advent Children majorly lacked in was character development in particular the derailment of Cloud's character in the original he was made to look like he suddenly lost his will because Aeris is dead. With the added footage a much better reasoning is given which I won't spoil for those who want to see this. Another huge improvement is the final battle between Cloud and Sephiroth, where in the original it was short and underwhelming the added footage makes the fight that much better including a VERY brutal scene that replaces Cloud getting stabbed through the shoulder which again I won't spoil but I will warn is not for the weak of heart. I still don't think this movie is perfect, alot of the plot elements don't make sense but I'm definitely glad I gave this movie a second chance.

[catsi563]

The Book of Eli 10/10

A solid allaround movie with a quiet but steady plot, beaultiful action, and consitent storytelling and characterization. It doesnt need or give excessive exposition on what happeend to the world, you have to listen to whats said and if you do the story unfolds on its own. The movie is worth it jsut for Denzel and Gary oldman alone.

great action and a solid well done twist at the end which I will not spoil for you.

Edited by catsi563, 23 January 2010 - 04:28 AM.

[Kyuudaime]

Paranormal Activities - 8/10

Pretty suspenseful, I found the ending a little surprising.
Things I didn't like would be how it was all from the camera's point of view, just for the fact that I felt like I was missing a lot of action, but the movie is taken from real events, so I suppose they took the clips from the camera.

[Cupcake-chan]

Nine - 7/10
The story is a bit dull but the songs as well as the actresses are great, in the movie.

Avatar - 8/10
Te thing that makes this movie great were the special effects. The plot is predictable as well an unoriginal.

Sherlock Holms - 3/10
A terrible movie.

[ciardha]

Iris 7/10
It's about the famous British writer Iris Murdoch, about her descent into Alzheimer's with flashbacks to her young adult life as a budding professional writer. The parts with her descent into Alzheimer's were sad but intense- definitely a 9 out of 10, but I felt like they skimped on her young life, I would have liked to have seen more on that, more on her passion for writing as a young woman, plus Winslet just doesn't have the acting depth the part needed and too much pandering to prurient interests (she has a long nude scene that is repeated in three lingering flashbacks- flashbacks that could have been spent focusing more on young Iris as a writer) The young Iris part of the movie is only about a 5 out of 10. Making an average of 7 out 10 overall.

(rented on Netflicks- I rarely go to the movies nowadays.) I'm a pretty tough critic on character development. For me, a 7 means it was very good movie, just felt like it lacked a little something that could have been easily remedied keeping it from being a great movie.

[RyrineaHaruno]

The Book of Eli 10/10

A solid allaround movie with a quiet but steady plot, beaultiful action, and consitent storytelling and characterization. It doesnt need or give excessive exposition on what happeend to the world, you have to listen to whats said and if you do the story unfolds on its own. The movie is worth it jsut for Denzel and Gary oldman alone.

great action and a solid well done twist at the end which I will not spoil for you.

This is something, I agree with that the twist at the end was a great idea.



Avatar 10/10

The special effects were breath taken as usual, James Cameron out did himself with this one. The plot wasn't predicable to me at least. To people saying, the plot is not original what is these days. The reason, I gave the number 10 out of 10 is, because I think it deserved the credit.

Edited by RyrineaHaruno, 24 January 2010 - 04:11 AM.

[chouzu_tao]

Planet Hulk 8/10
I was very surprised by this movie. Many... if not all of the movies based on Super Heroes going into any serious sort of tone, or everything is so base that you don't care. I'm not a huge fan of the Hulk by any means, if anything I think his comics are some of the more boring, but with this movie based off of the mini-comic series of the same name, there is depth breathed into him. Essentially it's a more epic version of Gladiator. And it has me excited by their next movie Thor: Tales of Asgard.

[FullmetalNinja25]

Planet Hulk 8/10
I was very surprised by this movie. Many... if not all of the movies based on Super Heroes going into any serious sort of tone, or everything is so base that you don't care. I'm not a huge fan of the Hulk by any means, if anything I think his comics are some of the more boring, but with this movie based off of the mini-comic series of the same name, there is depth breathed into him. Essentially it's a more epic version of Gladiator. And it has me excited by their next movie Thor: Tales of Asgard.

I didn't like it as much as many of the DCAU movies even tho I am a huge Marvel fan.

I give it a 6/10.

[True]

GATTACA: 9.5/10

"You want to give your child the best possible start. Believe me, we have enough imperfection built-in already. Your child doesn't need any additional burdens."

Thinking on this statement has me perplexed about a possible decision I would have to make as a parent. Who doesn't want the best for their child? Who wouldn't want them to have an easy life and take care of any issues and problems that aren't their fault but rather a result of random (scientifically) chance? There are two big issues I'd have to mull over. The first being that I'd like for my child to have every advantage possible. If I can take care of any diseases or in-habitations that would prevent him or her from succeeding and having a suitable path growing up, then I'd gladly take that opportunity to provide them with such a life. The second issue is that of discrimination, and how in the movies' setting people wouldn't give you the same treatment and respect if you were genetically not suitable for the "high end" of society. Would I want my child to have to be a part of a different social class and treated like a second class citizen because of a decision that I made to not take care of any potential aliments that could have been easily prevented? Obviously I'd do everything in my power to see to it that they are given the utmost respect and granted all the courtesy any other human being should rightfully deserve.

Of course the main conflict of this issue would that be of ethics and whether or not you'd leave your child's fate in the hands of God or that of science. In my opinion, I'd see genetic treatment as a progression of human medicine and the strides it has made over the times with improvements to help humans deal with our imperfections. Of course it is a very radical approach and something that steers closer towards "fixing" humans then anything before, but that is just the quick paced change of technology and innovation that occurs as humans gain knowledge and are able to attain new information that can help make all of our lives just a bit easier.

Now, on the theme of the movie I'd say it illustrated a very unique point about genetics. Is there a gene that controls emotions? Is there a gene that can control the human conscious and give us the mental focus, motivation, dedication, and everything else that drives human beings to succeed? Can genes determine a state of a persons mind and what they can create within the concepts of their mind? That is the turning point and difference that separates humans apart from genetics. The will to succeed and give everything you have. Vincent proved this in the movie, that even if he was an "invalid" and not suited to being an astronaut, his will power and determination alone helped him achieve his goals. He didn't take steroids, HGH, or any body enhancers. It was his own mind that gave him the power to seek out his goals. Jerome's blood, urine, skin, and hair did nothing but give him the access to be accepted into society, but everything else he did on his own. He succeeded because he wanted to and that is what gave him his edge.

The human body is chemically made up of many different elements. Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, are just seven of the sixty elements that make up the human body. Yet when you add them all up you still can't come up to 100%. There is something that is either too hard to find or not accounted for. Some would say this is the "soul" of a human. It maybe very very tiny and insignificant, but it is what makes us different from one another and can determine our future. Scientifically wise, I'd say the soul is the human conscious. That thinking that goes on within our heads? That "person" who we speak to within our minds eye, who we argue against or seek help from is what separates us as humans. Something which science has not yet been able to figure out completely and understand as of this point is what separates all of us and is in my opinion the deciding factor in how well humans can succeed in their lives, no matter their genetic code.

GATTACA is the scifi version of Rocky. Vincent is given no chance of being able to venture on a quest that he is seen as inept in completing. But through hard work and determination he is able to continue is conquest of reaching outer space. His spirit defeats the odds and common placed conception that those of lesser talents (i.e. inferior genes) aren't up to the task of reaching new heights and ascending to the top. However, as the movie showed his progress from a child to adult and how no matter how tough the going got, he always pushed harder to get past it. He epitomizes how indomitable the human spirit really is, and that if you really believe in something and give your full effort, you can make your dreams a reality.

[FullmetalNinja25]

With Final Act resparking my interest in InuYasha I decided I'd go back and watch the 4 movies.

Affections Touching Across Time (2001): 8/10

The Castle Beyond The Looking Glass (2002): 4/10

Swords Of An Honorable Ruler (2003): 8/10

Fire On The Mystic Island (2004): 6/10

[True]

Good Fellas: 9.5/10

Next to The Godfather this movie set up the basis of what gangster films should truly try and epitomize. It's explicit but not flashy. Smooth yet not pretentious. A riveting tale of what many people idolize and wish to be, but never glorifying it to the extent of it being unattainable. The narrative from beginning to end is absolutely perfect with how accurately it describes every scene that takes place. The splitting of perspectives between Henry and Karen does a great job of giving a different view point of a male and female, and how each one of them is effected by the life style they live.

The chronological account of Henry's life from a young boy fascinated with the gangsters that lived in his neighborhood that he so eagerly wanted to become a part of the culture. Taking many strides of doing ruminative chores, stealing/selling goods, participating in illegal activities, and his eventual rise up the ranks of the Lucchese crime family. The way he talks about all the things he did and going to detail about the culture really puts the viewer in the shoes of a gangster and gives an interesting progression through the eras of the mid fifties all the way to the late eighties. The respect he garners and the way how his life is a permanent roller-coaster ride with many ups and downs is simply exciting and a euphoric feeling. What is a gangster? Someone who has no regard for the law and does whatever the hell they want. But a gangster isn't your everyday normal street thug oh no, they have to have class and etiquette which means fancy suits, fast cars, and money in every pocket. They want the respect of their peers which they must earn through their actions, whether it is by being a hardened killer or a masterful thief. They want the beautiful women (or men), one who they will have as a trophy wife (or husband) to show off to their friends and then a few mistresses on the side to keep things lively. They want the countless amounts of money in which they can buy whatever luxury they find appealing. They want an exciting life by living everyday on the edge not certain whether they'll wake up tomorrow alive or six feet under. The term has a heavy negative connotation that comes along with it but that is the true beauty of the life as it isn't glamorized and everything is exposed for what it really is.

While Henry is a great title character who's life is fantastically showcased, the supporting cast of Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito who are respectively the paranoid mastermind and sociopath killer really helps to diversify the story. They bring many different dimensions to the movie and help to really flesh out every facet of being a gangster so the viewer can get a complete idea of what the life entails. The three of them are very different in their doings but they all share the similar high stakes life. You may like one or the other, all three of them, or hate them all. But they create the necessary contrasts needed to provide the varying ways in which a gangster behaves and how their lives are articulated. Of course there is the downside to what all three of them do and how not everything with being involved in the mafia means your life will be easy. Henry's addiction to drugs gets worse as he is more involved in that market and negatively impacts his bond with his wife and family. Jimmy becomes paranoid about his own schemes and starts to kill those involved or close to him. Tommy's wild and erratic behavior leads him to his own demise as he ends up paying for the consequences of his action with his life. What we learn is that with lots of power their also comes the sacrifices that go along with it. The greater the risk, the bigger the reward is the the thematic style of a gangster and a mafia family. The ironic beginning and end of the movie has to deal with the theme of loyalty and whether or not you can trust not only your friends, but your own family as well. Are you willing to sacrifice someone close to you if it can insure you'll gain something in return, or will it help you in the imminent future? No matter how strong your bond or whether you are related by blood or not, people are inertly selfish and when presented with the opportunity to better their lives they will take it. This counts double for a gangster. There is only one type of trust that can't be broken and that is loyalty to the game.

Martin Scorsese has made some great mafia films and his cinematography is quite excellent. He portrays an accurate and surreal depiction of a culture that mystifies many people and through this movie he was able to show it's evolution from one man's perspective. But to help the viewer grasp the near perfect image of the life style he brings in many different other characters and elements to help make the movie very broad and thoroughly laid out so you can clearly envision what it must be like to be a gangster. From family, crime, violence, drugs, and other aspects of gangster life the viewer gets a great dosage of nearly everything they would need to learn about a gangster. I also found it rather amusing that so many actors in this movie would go on to play a larger role in the best gangster (and my personal favorite) television show of The Sopranos. The only detracting of the movie I could really pull out is that there isn't a remastered version of it so the quality is very sub-par. I don't know if it's because I've been spoiled by blue-ray movies nowadays, but a high definition version of the movie could have really made it a much better watch. All that being said, GoodFellas set the staple for mob flicks and shows the best and worst of being a gangster. Only The Godfather is a superior film in my opinion when it comes to being the best mafia movie.

[Illmatic]

^^^ someone was watching AMC this weekend. It's a crime that it didn't win Best Picture. Oh well, at least Scorsese got his with The Departed.

Now go get your f'n shinebox

Edited by Illmatic, 16 February 2010 - 02:59 AM.

[True]

Haha it was indeed a crime it didn't win the best picture . And yeah I loved The Departed as well. Some of my favorite gangster films are easily The Godfather, GoodFellas, Blow, Scarface, Pulp Fiction, and Belly. I'm going to have to marathon them this weekend.